Anaesthesia and intensive care
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Anaesth Intensive Care · Oct 2007
Comparative StudyA comparison of tape-tying versus a tube-holding device for securing endotracheal tubes in adults.
During the transfer of intubated patients, endotracheal tube security is paramount. This study aims to compare two methods of securing an endotracheal tube in adults: tying with a cloth tape versus the Thomas Endotracheal Tube Holder (Laerdal). A manikin-based study was performed using paramedics and critical care doctors (consultants and senior trainees) as participants. ⋯ The degree of tube movement was significantly higher when the tube was secured with a tie compared with when the tube holder was used (median movement 22 mm vs. 4 mm, P < 0.0001). We have demonstrated that the tube holder device minimised tube movement in a manikin model when compared with conventional tape tying. The use of this device when transporting intubated patients may reduce the risk of tube displacement though further clinical studies are warranted.
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Anaesth Intensive Care · Oct 2007
Case ReportsRecurrence of focal seizure activity in an infant during induction of anaesthesia with sevoflurane.
A three-month-old male infant, previously diagnosed with seizures with a focal origin induced by hypocalcaemia secondary to hypoparathyroidism, presented for right cataract surgery. The hypocalcaemia and seizure activity had resolved with medical therapy, with normal calcium levels and no seizures for a month. Anaesthesia with halothane and isoflurane for left cataract surgery two days previously had been uneventful. ⋯ The patient had normal calcium levels at the time of surgery. It appears likely that sevoflurane had triggered seizure activity in the apparently controlled focus. The potential for sevoflurane to induce epileptogenic activity in patients with reduced seizure threshold is discussed.
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Anaesth Intensive Care · Oct 2007
A comparison of central venous-arterial and mixed venous-arterial carbon dioxide tension gradient in circulatory failure.
The arterial and mixed venous carbon dioxide tension gradient has been shown to increase when there is a decrease in cardiac output. Monitoring central venous gases is an attractive alternative to monitoring mixed venous gases in circulatory failure because central venous catheterisation is a less invasive procedure than pulmonary artery catheterisation. This study aims to evaluate the agreement between central venous-arterial carbon dioxide (CVA-CO2) and mixed venous-arterial carbon dioxide (SVA-CO2) tension gradients and assess whether CVA-CO2 tension gradient can be used to predict cardiac output in circulatory failure. ⋯ CVA-CO2 (Spearman correlation coefficient r = -0.385) and SVA-CO, (r = -0.578) tension gradient were significantly correlated with the cardiac index but the cardiac index only accounted for 21% and 32% of the variability of CVA-CO, and SVA-CO2 tension gradient, respectively. The ability of CVA-CO2 tension gradient (area under the ROC curve = 0.77, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.49-0.99; P = 0.08) to predict a low cardiac output state (cardiac index < 2.5 l/min/m2) was lower than SVA-CO2 (area under the ROC curve = 0.95, 95% CI: 0.88-0.99; P = 0.003). The utility of CVA-CO2 and SVA-CO2 tension gradient appeared to be limited to their negative predictive value to exclude a low cardiac output state when CVA-CO, or SVA-CO, tension gradient was normal (< or =5 mmHg).
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Levosimendan has been used successfully in the treatment of ischaemic cardiac failure and myocardial stunning. There is growing evidence from both human and animal experiments that levosimendan has particularly favourable effects on the right ventricle. We describe a case of life-threatening pulmonary embolus supported by the use of levosimendan.